Eric Temple served as a Head of School for the past 18 years, and most recently as the Head of School at Lick-Wilmerding High School, a coed day 9-12 high school in San Francisco, CA serving 550 students. Before joining Lick-Wilmerding eleven years ago, for seven years Eric headed The Carey School, a pre-kindergarten through fifth grade coed day school in San Mateo, CA.
Eric began his career teaching English and as the Dean of Students at Ojai Valley Upper School, then moved to Crystal Springs Uplands School where he taught English, was the Dean of Studies and Assistant Head of School. Eric has served on many school boards, the California Association of Independent Schools board, and the NAIS Board as Secretary and Chair of the Equity and Justice Committee. For five years, Eric served on the faculty of the NAIS Institute for New Heads where he taught about the entry process and understanding school culture.
He holds a BA and MA in English Literature, a MEd in Educational Leadership, and has executive coaching certifications from UC Berkeley’s Executive Coaching Institute at the Haas School of Business and the NeuroLeadership Institute.
Selected Current & Recent Work
Areas of Focus
- Educators Collaborative, Partner, 2022-Present
- California Association of Independent Schools, Interim Executive Director, 2025-2026
- The Overlake School, Redmond, WA, Interim Head of School, 2023-2024
- Lick-Wilmerding High School, San Francisco, CA, Head of School, 2011-2022
- The Carey School, San Mateo, CA, Head of School, 2004-2011
- Crystal Springs Uplands School, Hillsborough, CA, Assistant Head of School, 2000-2004; Director of Studies, 1997-2004; English Teacher, 1991-2004
- Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, Klingenstein Full Year Research Fellow, 1995-1996
- Ojai Valley Upper School, Ojai, CA, Dean of Students, English Teacher, Equestrian Team Coach, 1989-1991
Education
- NeuroLeadership Institute, Brain Based Coaching Certificate, June 2022
- Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, Executive Coaching Certificate, 2021
- Teacher College, Columbia University, New York, NY, Master of Education, 1996
- University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, Master of Arts, 1988
- Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, Bachelor of Arts, 1985
- Oxford University, Trinity College, 1987
- University of London, Westfield College, 1983-1984
- National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), Board of Trustees, Member, 2016-2022; Secretary, 2021-2022
- NAIS, Equity and Justice Committee, Chair, 2017-2022
- NAIS, Institute for New Heads, Faculty 2013-2017
- CA Teacher Development Collaborative Administrator Fellows Program, Faculty 2019-2022
- Castilleja School, Member Board of Trustees, 2020-Present
- Town School for Boys, Member Board of Trustees, 2017-2020
- California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), Board of Directors, 2010-2014
- CAIS Accreditation Teams, Chair, 2008-Present
- CAIS Secondary School Board of Standards, Chair, 2013-2014
- Bay Area Teacher Development Collaborative, Member Board of Directors, 2014-2017
- Klingbrief – Teachers College, Columbia University, Member Editorial Board, 2009-2017
- Archbishop Riordon High School, Member Board of Trustees, 2009-2014
- NAIS/EE Ford Mentor for Emerging Leaders Program, 2007-2014
- Marin Academy, Member Board of Trustees, 2010-2011
- The Live Oak School, San Francisco, CA, Member Board of Trustees, 2007-2010
- Phillips Brooks School, Menlo Park, CA, Member Board of Trustees, 2007-2010
- The Trinity School, Palo Alto, CA, Member Board of Trustees, 2001-2007
Let’s Start a Conversation
- Email Eric
- (415) 279-1837
